Story:

While enjoying a lovely picnic of the best bamboo and noodles, Pico Panda and his true love, Amanda Panda are suddenly surrounded by nefarious poachers. After a heroic struggle, Pico wakes up with a splitting headache to find Amanda is gone! With steely determination, he sets out to rescue her before it's too late.

How to Play:

The Adventures of Pico Panda is a turn-based adventure/puzzle game. Guide Pico Panda through the forest in search of his true love, Amanda. Find keys to rescue panda cubs, avoid insects (or squash them flat), and maybe find a secret or two. Keep and eye on  Pico's Hunger meter so that he has the strength to continue his mission. Walking naturally consumes Hunger slowly, while rolling takes a lot out of Pico and will use more Hunger. Waiting will use the least amount of Hunger.

Combat in The Adventures of Pico Panda is turn-based and puzzle-like. Enemies are best avoided, though rolling into Beetles or Hornets will squash them. Very useful if Pico needs to backtrack. Pico and enemies will move at the same time. Rolling will cause Pico to move while enemies do not, and Waiting causes enemies to move and Pico to stand still. Position matters!

Pico-8 Controls:

D-Pad - Move Pico Panda

X - Roll

O - Wait

Keyboard Controls:

Arrow Keys - Move Pico Panda

X - Roll

Z- Wait

Gameplay Screen:

The status bar at the top of the screen keeps track of how Pico is doing on his adventure.  

Pico Panda's health is represented by his heart icon. As he takes damage, his despair at saving Amanda grows and his heart breaks. Pico can take 3 points of damage before it's game over.

Optimistic         Sad           Heartbroken 

Pico's hunger bar will change from green to red as he becomes hungry. Eating bamboo will fill Pico's belly and give him the energy he needs to save Amanda.

The number of panda cubs Pico has rescued (there are 99 total) and the keys he's collected are both listed as well.

Pico's status icon is in the top right of the status bar, and each of three icons show how he's feeling.

 Healthy - Pico Panda's base state.

 Poisoned - Pico moves slower and each action generates more hunger when he's poisoned.

Energized - When Pico is energized he speeds up and his walk becomes like his roll (without the extra hunger loss). Squash those beetles and boulders by walking into them.

Enemies:

 Beetle 

Wanders around the area until they see food. Unfortunately for Pico, bamboo is one of their favorites too, and they don't feel like sharing.

 Hornet

Generally ignores Pico as they fly back and forth, but beware, their sting is poisonous.

 Whirlwind

Slow moving, but if Pico runs into one of these, he could be set back significantly.

Page Still Under Construction 

Credits:

The Adventures of Pico Panda was built on the framework provided by Dylan Bennett on his YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@DylanBennett. Also, check out his work at mboffin.itch.io

Link to tutorial playlist : https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdLmU93eWisKpyk1WZywUSYAq5dkCPFIv

My wife was the total inspiration for this game, and a lot of her feedback continues to be very important. I love you, Amanda.

Disclaimer: The cover image and, in consequence, the label art for The Adventures of Pico Panda was produced using generative AI. ALL other content (e.g. graphics, code, sound effects) was produced by humans.